Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Other

David Arthur Wade

Paul Elia

James Antime Marleau

Paul Repp

Bruce Donald Burnside

Stuart C Salter

Paul Kenneth Dellock

Larry Dean Elie

John Matthew Ginder

Donald Paul Iacovoni

Gregory James Grudzinski

Steve William Gallagher

Todd William Dishman

Eric Jay MacLean

Mathias A Huber

Tad J Siedlecki

Richard E Newton

James V Hanson

Kenneth Michael Reo

Azfar Qamar

Georgette Eaton

Jon W Stanley

Arthur William Atkinson

Chester Stansilaus Walawender

Stephen W Zutell

Marius A Mitrofan

This disclosure relates to a valve assembly for a motor vehicle, such as a pressure relief valve, and a method of using the same. The valve assembly includes a flap moveable to between an open position and a closed position. The valve assembly further includes a pair of shape memory-alloy (SMA) wires configured to move the flap between the open and closed positions. Specifically, the valve includes a first shape-memory alloy wire configured to rebound to a first rebound shape to urge the flap to the open position, and a second shape-memory alloy wire configured to rebound to a second rebound shape to urge the flap to the closed position.

Valve assembly with shape-memory alloy wires and method of using the same

A passenger vehicle comprises a passenger compartment with an interior space. An HVAC system conditions fresh air from outside the vehicle, wherein the HVAC system includes a main blower for delivering conditioned air to the interior space. An air extractor valve is fluidically coupled between the interior space and the outside, wherein the air extractor valve opens in response to a higher pressure in the interior space than an outside pressure. The air extractor valve substantially blocks air flow from the outside to the interior space. A supplemental blower is integrated with the air extractor valve for directing an exhaust flow from the interior to the outside, wherein the supplemental blower is activated as a function of the main blower. Alternatively, the supplemental blower is activated in response to a door being opened, enhancing the ability of the extractor to reduce door closing effort.

Active pressure relief valve for automatic air extractor

An active pressure relief system for a vehicle cabin in response to a cabin-door closure. An air-extractor may be configured to open when a cabin-door is opened, and remain open until the last of a number of cabin-doors are closed. The air-extractor allows for the increased pressure resulting from the cabin-door closure to be equalized with the external environment through the air-extractor. After the last of a number of cabin-doors are closed, the air-extractor closes to inhibit noise and external elements from entering the cabin through the air-extractor.

Vehicle door closure cabin pressure relief system

A lighting system for a vehicle opening is provided herein. The lighting system includes a seal disposed around a periphery of an opening in the body of a vehicle. A light source is disposed on a portion of the seal. The light source may implement a thin design, thereby helping to fit the light source into small package spaces of the vehicle. A first photoluminescent structure is configured to luminesce in response to excitation by at least a portion of the light sources.

Luminescent vehicle seal

A modular upper-door assembly including a standard geometric corner component and a standard geometric B-pillar component for all vehicle model doors. Each header, belt and window-track has a different length and bend geometry for each vehicle model door while each respective component shares a standard geometric cross-section. All headers may connect to the corner component and B-pillar component in the same locations for each vehicle model door. All belts may connect to the corner component in the same location for each vehicle model door, but the attachment location on the B-pillar may vary from vehicle to vehicle. A stationary-glass or mirror-sail may also be overmolded into the assembly.

Vehicle modular upper-door assembly

An integral window surround for a vehicle. The window surround includes upper, front, and rear glass runs for guiding and sealing a glass window, as well as a mirror sail for mounting a side mirror, and a B-pillar appliqu&#xe9; for providing decorative covering for the B-pillar. A belt molding extends across the bottom of the surround, with attachment means for securing the surround to the vehicle body. Sealing elements are also provided. If desired, an alternative implementation can be provided without the mirror sail, suitable for rear windows and windows that do not have a side mirror. The components of the surround are integral, which is accomplished by forming the surround in a two-shot molding process. The structural elements are molding in a first shot, and at that point decorative films can be inserted into the mold to provide a desired surface finish. The second shot forms the sealing elements.

Window surround for a vehicle

A seal for an automobile body opening comprising a plastic carrier, an elastomeric bulb operably connected to the plastic carrier, and a plastic clip operably connected to, and extending away from, the plastic carrier for engagement to a flange for retaining the seal to the flange.

Two-shot secondary seal with clip

A lighted vehicle body opening weather strip includes a longitudinally extending gripping portion having an outside wall, a co-extending tubular sealing portion disposed on the outside wall of the gripping portion, a carrier embedded within the gripping portion, a light source extrusion carried by the gripping portion, and an extrusion solid surrounding the light source extrusion.

Lighted vehicle body opening weather strip

A pressure relief valve assembly,including a generally rectangular member or housing,, four generally flat and rectangular &ldquo;flaps&rdquo; or movable members,, and,, and eight substantially identical fastening members,. Members,are pivotal along respective axes,which are each disposed at an angle,with respect to the longitudinal axis,of housing,, and which allow assembly,to be operatively disposed in multiple positions and orientations.

Pressure relief valve assembly

A vehicle door sealing system includes a flexible weatherstrip containing magnetizable particulate material. Selected areas of the weatherstrip are magnetized to enhance the sealing action at hard-to-seal zones, such as curved corner areas along the door perimeter. The magnetic action is confined to the hard-to-seal areas so that the magnetic action will not make it excessively difficult for a person to open the vehicle door.

Sealing system for vehicle door

A foldable sandbag holder for supporting a conventional sandbag in an upright open-mouthed position, comprising a rear frame member having two rear vertical rods which are braced by means of crossbars extending therebetween, and a pair of side members, each side member having a front vertical rod. The side members are pivotally connected to the rear vertical rods and are movable between a flat configuration wherein the side members are folded against the rear frame member and an open rectangular configuration wherein the side members are positioned generally transversely with respect to the rear frame member. The front and rear vertical rods have pointed upper ends for piercing through the peripheral end portion of a sandbag to maintain the bag in an upright position with the mouth thereof spread open, so that it can be easily filled with sand. The vertical rods also have pointed lower ends for penetrating the ground to provide stability during filling operation.

Foldable sandbag holder

A device for preventing magnetically attractable flatware and other objects from falling into a food disposer. Round tubes containing magnets are arranged parallel to one another across a collar at the mouth of the disposer. Each tube contains an assembly of cylindrical magnets, separated by spacers, which are magnetized and oriented to provide a strong attractive force around the tube.

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MI, United States of America

David Arthur Wade